I AM YOU is hosted by Nitza I. Alvarez, MD, FACC — board-certified cardiologist, Women’s Heart Specialist, and bestselling author. Each episode shares real stories and expert insights that help women understand their unique heart health, manage stress, and take charge of their well-being. Dr. Alvarez’s mission is simple: to inspire every woman to become the CEO of their own health—with knowledge, confidence, and community.

In this episode, Dr. Alvarez challenges one of the most frustrating words a woman can hear when she knows something is wrong: “normal.” You’ll meet a 48-year-old woman who spent a year dealing with exhaustion, shortness of breath, and a pounding heart—only to be told again and again that her tests were normal.

Dr. Alvarez explains why a normal test result does not necessarily mean that nothing is wrong. Standard testing may be effective at identifying large, obvious problems, while missing conditions that can present differently in women—including disease involving the small blood vessels, early cardiovascular changes, and issues influenced by hormonal transitions.

With clarity and compassion, she covers:

• What doctors may actually mean when they say a test is “normal”
• Why normal test results don’t necessarily rule out an underlying problem
• How cardiovascular disease can present differently in women, including microvascular disease
• Why hormonal changes and declining estrogen matter when evaluating a woman’s cardiovascular health
• Why persistent symptoms deserve further investigation—even when the initial workup is normal
• How to ask your provider exactly what a test ruled out—and what it did not
• Why asking about women-specific evaluations and additional testing can matter
• How to make sure ongoing symptoms are documented in your medical record
• Why seeking a second opinion is not disloyalty—it’s diligence
• Five practical steps to advocate for yourself when your body tells you something is wrong

This episode is a reminder that “normal” should not always be the end of the conversation. When a test says everything looks normal but your symptoms continue, you are allowed to keep asking questions, seek another opinion, and advocate for a deeper evaluation. Becoming the CEO of your own health means understanding what your test results actually tell you, listening to your body, and continuing to search for answers when something doesn’t feel right.

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This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard or read here.